Chapter 9: Failing Magic
In which Belle stands her ground
"I'm so sorry. There was nothing I could do." Emma is telling Mary Margaret what has happened. "What use is magic if I have no control over it?" she sniffs. "When it isn't there when I need it?" She smashes her hand on the table. "And what did you do?" Mary Margaret redirects her focus to Regina, "did you stand by doing nothing as well?" "I couldn't risk hurting your precious husband," Regina snaps back. "The man wouldn't let go of him, so any sort of action would have had a devastating effect on both. I suppose, you wouldn't have liked your husband back roasted from the inside out? Or paralyzed like an ice statue?"
Belle is livid. Rumple decided to own up to his mischief and she is taking it hard. He'd been honest with her, maybe too honest, and perhaps that wasn't the wisest choice. He makes an impulsive decision to continue to divulge his true feelings. "Belle, I'm sorry but I don't think I'll ever be able to give up magic. It's been part of me for too long and it has a strong pull on me. Very strong. The thought of complete powerlessness will always be haunting enough to keep me in its grip." Belle stares at him. She doesn't respond but looks very sad and defeated. Finally she says: "It can't and it shouldn't. But if it is, than what are we?"
David wakes up and takes in his surroundings. He is tied up with his back to the wall of a shed. His head hurts from the blow the man had given him. It had all happened so suddenly. One second, Emma and the man had been arguing, testing the waters, the next, he had a dagger on his throat. Seeing the fearful expressions in both Emma and Regina's eyes, had not been promising. Emma had been paralyzed with fear and whatever triggered her magic on other occasions, wasn't happening this time. Regina had engaged the man as well, tried to reason with him, but had eventually let the man take him away to this stinking, cold place.
"What do you mean, my dear?" Rumple asks, shocked and quite unable to hide his fears. "We are a great couple. I love you so much, you know that. You bring out the best in me." "Do I?" "Yes, yes, of course, without you I'd be… I don't know what I would be and I don't care to think about it." "Perhaps you should." Belle has walked out on him before. "Or perhaps you should accept me for once, the real me, not the boy scout I try to be for your sake." Ooh, Rumple," she gives a hollow laugh, "you were never a boy scout." "Belle, you mean more to me than anything, anything in the world." "Except magic." "Those are two completely different things. You are my true love. Magic is my tool to live life comfortably and fearlessly." "You will not choose me over it, then?" "I've tried to a million times, dearie, it doesn't work." "I need time to think. I'm staying at Granny's tonight." He sees her walking out the front door with her head bowed low.
This was not his intention. Belle was not supposed to walk out on him. She should accept him, once and for all, accept his true nature. His unchangeable nature. Perhaps they could find some middle ground but he would never truly renounce magic. He simply couldn't. He needed it. It was very unfortunate that the two most important people in his life could not see that. Didn't want to acknowledge that. It's like they want me to be better than I am, but I can't give it up. I simply can't. Other people had accepted and even used his magic readily enough. Cora, Regina, but also the Charmings would find their way to him whenever it suited them.
This was not his intention. He wanted to stay out of this kind of trouble. Radolph was standing outside his hunting cabin. Now he had abducted someone, in front of the sheriff and the mayor. Things were not exactly looking up. He had lost most of his friends and he was possessed by an evil spirit. Whatever was going on with him, it was spinning rapidly out of control. The strong and angry feelings that are racing through his veins are flaring up. Killing the man, the Prince, might be the only solution, but staying hidden in the woods forever couldn't be the answer either. Maybe, just maybe, the dagger wasn't a great a gift as he thought it was.
The following morning Belle visits the convent. She hopes that the Blue Fairy can provide some guidance. Perhaps she will have some ideas on transforming him. Blue seems eager to talk to her about the dagger and Rumple. Soon Belle starts to feel a strange sensation. She cannot tell if Blue is advising her or the other way around. Since Belle is doing most of the talking, she doesn't really learn anything helpful.